Melbourne's Chinese community generously committed their hair and their money to the World's Greatest Shave, raising more than $40,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation.

By YAWEI YUAN

The fight against leukemia has found a new ally in the local Chinese community, which has come out in force to take part in the last week's World’s Greatest Shave event at Federation Square.

The 19-member Chinese team far exceeded their original goal of raising $5000, in the end bringing in more than $40,000.

Leukaemia Foundation support services manager Tennille Lewin said she was astounded by the Chinese team’s success.

“It is such a fantastic thing to see their participation, their commitment to the World’s Greatest Shave, considering this is their first time being involved,” she said.

“Their efforts have been phenomenal.”

Chinese businesses based in Melbourne also gave their support to the team, with FCG Property spokesman Steven Dong saying participation in the event provided the Chinese community with an opportunity to unite with Melbourne in the battle against leukemia, and continue to build on positive relations.

FCG Property general manager Isabelle Huang led by example, sitting in the barber’s chair after she bet colleagues they would only raise $5000.

“I bet my colleagues that if the amount of funding was up to $5000, I would shave [my head],” Ms Huang said.

“It indeed happened, and I feel so happy.”

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Participant Boya Li joined the Chinese team and committed to shaving her hair after she was inspired by donations climbing beyond $30,000.

“I was deeply touched. As the donation is going up, I knew my hair would be gone. But, doing something with young people for the community is more meaningful, ” Ms Li said.

Fellow participant Baozhong Huang  said it was important to give back to the Australian community.

“Australia is like our hometown. We met each other, we met love here, and it is the love [that] lets us come together,” she said.

The Leukaemia Foundation expects that this year more than 12, 000 Australians will be diagnosed with a blood cancer or related blood disorder in Australia, which equates to 31 people per day.

The World’s Greatest Shave is the largest fundraising campaign organised by the Leukaemia Foundation, with more than 150,000 participants in Australia each year.